Sports

Rory McIlroy, Jim Furyk easily advances to quarterfinals at Match Play

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits out of a bunker up to the 15th green of TPC Harding Park during round-robin play against Billy Horschel at the Match Play Championship golf tournament Friday, May 1, 2015, in San Francisco. McIlroy won the match on the 20th hole. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) (The Associated Press)

Jim Furyk lines up a shot on the ninth green during the Match Play Championship golf tournament Saturday, May 2, 2015, at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) (The Associated Press)

Rory McIlroy rolled into the quarterfinals of the Match Play Championship on Saturday with four birdies on the front nine for a 6-and-5 victory over Hideki Matsuyama of Japan.

McIlroy has joked all week about wanting a short match Saturday to get to Las Vegas for the fight. He at least got one in the morning. He needed another in the afternoon.

As the No. 1 player, McIlroy and fifth-seeded Jim Furyk were the only players from the top 35 still around at TPC Harding Park. Furyk recovered from an early deficit to beat J.B. Holmes 5 and 3.

Danny Willett won the battle of Blighty with a 3-and-2 win over Lee Westwood. Another Englishman, Tommy Fleetwood, advanced by beating Branden Grace of South Africa.